GABS Brewer – Rocks Brewing Company

What beer are you making for GABS?
We are doing an Apricot Wheat beer. What the base beer will be we will figure out in the next few weeks, may have some fun bits like multiple yeast strains and some extra steps in the mash profile.

Does it have a name yet?
Not really, will be under a ‘‘Pickpocket’’ banner. We had cider under that name, coming into the brew house we decided to discontinue making or rebranding cider (which was called Pickpocket) and just stick to beer. We have distribution agreement with Tilse Cider and now supply/sell their cider. Tilse make cider better than I could ever do, so why try and re-invent the wheel, I guess.

Where did the inspiration come from?
We are just trying to keep the boss happy. Like me he went to college in the US in the ’90s, has this love of fruit wheat beers and cannot figure out why more Aussie brewers do not make them. Aussie brewers have kinda missed those sorts of beers and gone straight to things like IPAs.

Do you think it’ll be a one-off or are you considering adding it to the range after GABS?
We have loose plans to do some beers under the Pickpocket banner, but nothing solid. Whether it rears it head again we will see.

What do you think of the concept of GABS?
I have not been to GABS, so I cannot comment on the actual event. There seemed to be some logistical issues faced by the organisers in the first year or two, but hopefully these are now sorted out. I also cannot be there again – Good Beer Week has the greatest of timing of being on or around my wife’s birthday. This year is no different and the GABS starts on her birthday, and it is milestone birthday I would have a piece of anatomy chopped off if I was at GABS.

The Great Australasian Beer Spectapular (aka GABS) is on in Melbourne on May 23-25, 2014.